PARTING WORDS

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

After chapters of doctrine, Paul zooms in on the nitty gritty of daily life. Maybe it’s just the time of year, but this reminds me of the parting words of advice a parent gives to a child heading off to college. Parents spend years laying out our doctrine for living and now, as the bags are packed and the car loaded, we offer the kind of practical advice Paul offers the Corinthians.

“Manage your money wisely.” Plan ahead so you’ll have what you need when you need it.

“Be on guard.” The enemy of your soul stalks about, looking for someone to devour.

“Stand firm in the faith.” Don’t be swayed from what you know is true, no matter how persuasive the argument you hear.

“Be courageous.” You’ll be afraid at times, yes, but face those fears head on.

“Be strong.” Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

“And do everything with love.” Be kind and forgiving toward those who sit next to you at the table, and submit to those in leadership. Pray for them.

Paul offers the assurance that he’ll see them soon. (“We’ll be there for Parents’ Weekend!”)

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you,” Paul writes. (Parents pray the same for their child and offer one additional parting word, “And don’t forget to call home once in awhile…”)

Practical, loving, parting words are a great way to end a letter, or a book, or a chapter of life.

Lord, may I speak loving, practical words while I have the chance…

Seeds of Life

1 Corinthians 15:29-58

It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. (vs. 42)

When I was a kid I loved playing with helicopters. Not plastic ones and not the kind you climb into and fly around in. I loved playing with the helicopters that maple trees made for us. Those cool little seed pods that cluttered the ground. I picked them up off the ground, threw them into the air, and watched them spin like helicopter propellers, as they fell to the ground. I was fascinated by these cool little toys that nature made.

I don't know that I ever really thought much about the fact that those cool little toys were the means for growing the trees I used to climb in. But now that I think about it, it blows my mind. Just one of those little seeds is enough to grow the tree that gives us shade, that made those pretty leaves I loved to collect in fall, that formed branches that could house families of squirrels and birds, and that even gave me a place to play and climb.

The life that grew out of just one of those little helicopter pods far exceeded any obvious potential we'd expect from that seed, based on its beauty, shape, and size.

The Apostle Paul reminds us this morning in 1 Corinthians 15 that, as cool and exciting and enjoyable as this life can be, the life that awaits us through faith in Christ is even more incredible! This life is good and hard and a gift from God. But the resurrection life that's coming for those who trust in Jesus will be as different for us as a maple tree is different from a maple seed. The possibilities are that much more grand in scale, the beauty exponentially greater, the picture and the experience impossible to anticipate, and an immeasurable longevity – all to be experienced in the very presence of the God who made us, loves us, and saved us. We look forward to an incredible future!

Easter People

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

I daydream a lot. Sometimes I call it Mental Creative Exploration.
Lately, I've
been thinking about the resurrection.

Recall Romans 10:9 - "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved."

Pondering this, I asked myself why the Resurrection is so important.
Isn't it Jesus' death - the one sinless person becoming sin for the
rest of us - that makes us right with God? Why do we celebrate Easter?

Like the voice from heaven at Jesus' baptism, "You are my dearly loved
Son, and you bring me great joy," (Luke 3:22 NLT) - the resurrection is
God's stamp of approval on all the Son is, all he said about himself,
and all he accomplished.

Jesus predicted his own death, and said he would be raised to life on
the third day. "After he was raised from the dead, his disciples
recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the
words that Jesus had spoken," (John 2:22 NIV). It was the risen Jesus
who walked with two disciples along the road to Emmaus, explaining to
them what all the Scriptures said concerning himself. "Wasn't it
clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these
things before entering his glory?" (Luke 24:26 NLT).

Ah, how our hearts burn within us as we discover how Jesus fulfilled -
and will fulfill - all that God has ordained. Without Easter, would I
have a glimpse of Glory? Would I long for increased devotion to Christ?

My mind can't wrap around all that the risen Christ is and does even
now, this moment. He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). He
is the one Mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). He lives
forever to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25). "All glory, majesty, power,
and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond
all time!" (Jude 25 NLT).

Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus "proved to the apostles in many
ways that he was actually alive," (Acts 1:3 NLT).

Here in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul tells us the two "most important" points
of the Good News that he preaches: (1) Christ died for our sins, and
(2) he was raised from the dead on the third day (verses 3 and 4).

Sorry to say, I sometimes forget the importance of the resurrection,
even though I look forward to that time when I'll see my risen Lord.
Realizing this, I've been revisiting the preaching of the apostles in
the book of Acts.

I find that the resurrection is at the heart of the salvation message.
For example, Acts 4:33 says, "With great power the apostles continued
to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was
upon them all," (NIV).

Peter and the other apostles, from Acts 5 - "The God of our ancestors
raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him... God exalted him to
[the place of honor at] his own right hand as Prince and Savior, that
he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins..." (NIV/NLT).

It sounds as though the resurrection of Christ is an integral part of
God's provision as he reconciles us to himself.

Peter writes in his first letter, "Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth
into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -
kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power
until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the
last time," (1:3-5 NIV). Wow! Try underlining all the important words
in those two sentences!

We find similar teaching in many of Paul's letters, as well:
"He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to
life to make us right with God," (Romans 4:25 NLT).

"Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was
raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach," (2 Timothy 2:8
NLT).

"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life [will]
live for Christ, who died and was raised for them," (2 Corinthians 5:15
NLT).

What's so important about Easter? Today's reading says it plainly - "If
Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are
still guilty of your sins," (Romans 15:17 NLT).

Death is not a friend, it is an enemy - the last enemy to be destroyed
when Jesus comes to reign. "Christ has been raised from the dead. He is
the first of a great harvest..."

Hallelujah! We are Easter people!

Deetje Wildes

Worship Services

Speaking in tongues - various interpretations and means and significance has been debated by sincere Christians for centuries on this matter.  Read again from yesterday’s reading.  Vs. 18 & 19 which for some of us has been helpful.  V. 20 - Be innocent as babies when it comes to matters which are evil.  And be mature in your understanding of the Christian faith.  V. 22 – Paul continues to clarify the importance of prophecy (preaching) because it is such a great benefit to all hearers.  V. 25 – Keep in mind: the ultimate goal of speaking the Word of the Lord is that people become convicted of their sin and their need of the Savior, and all is to be done for the glory of God.  V. 26 – The purpose of worship is that the Lord be glorified, and that worshippers be strengthened in their faith in the Lord.  V. 33 – God likes things done orderly!  V. 34 & 3 – Regarding women being silent in the church meetings, that was the custom of that day…and for some years after that.  This writer thinks that his ideas on this subject are best kept to himself!  V. 40 – Regarding conduct in the church fellowship: properly and in order.  AMEN!

 

Donald E. Pardun

 

I Cor 14:1-19

Good Day!

 

Paul encourages us to desire spiritual gifts.  What is a spiritual gift?  It seems in this text that the reason to receive a spiritual gift is for the building up of the church.  Paul doesn't say stop speaking in tongues, but rather again focuses their attention back to chapter 13, love.  How can we use what God has given us to show love to other people?  This reminds me of the fruit of the Spirit.  A tree doesn't eat its own fruit, but rather its fruit is for others.  The good gifts God gives us are for us to use for the benefit of other people.

 

When our High School youth group was in Mexico it was interesting to hear the Mexican Christians pray.  For most of us we didn't know Spanish so we couldn't understand much of anything they said.  This particular church had the custom of having many people pray at the same time.  So even they didn't know what the other was praying.  Seeing a different culture helps us understand our own culture.  This experience helped me ask the question, "why do we pray the way we do?"  Perhaps it from this passage of scripture when Paul tells us that he will pray with his spirit but also with understanding so that others around may be built up. 

 

Recently, I have been doing devotions with an old prayer book.  These prayers are well thought out and doctrinally rich.  Their language is a bit thick and antiquated, but I am finding myself built up by their truth.  I appreciate that Paul says he will pray both with his spirit and with understanding, and in another place scripture says we worship God in both spirit and truth. 

 

Here is an excerpt from one of the prayers for your edification:

 

"Strengthen me again by Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of power and strength, so that in daily contrition and repentance I may walk and live before you in righteousness and in purity."

 

Pastor Adam

 

adam berge

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The God Who Makes Sense of Me

I Corinthians 12:27-13:13

This text contains one of the most comforting thoughts for me in all of scripture. I find myself going here often when standing alongside people who ache to understand circumstances or know reasons in the face of frustrating mystery.

At some juncture of life we each will feel the inner chaos of trying to understand why some tragedy happens, or some great grief or unjustice is allowed to invade our lives. At those times we either chafe at the sovereignty of God or come to rest in it. (Early on we can even seem to simultaneously oscillate between both resting & wrestling!)

This scripture confirms for me that there are some things I will never understand. There are other things that in this life I will only ever understand in part. But it also assures me of a couple other things I can hang on to in these agonizing mysteries:

* one day I will understand! I will see with clarity all that is blurred or opaque now.

* and on this day, Today, right this moment, I can be comforted in knowing that what might seem senseless to me, makes sense to God. He understands it all. There is no mystery to Him, no aching chaos. Not only does He understand this grief I have, and why it must be, but He is the God Who makes sense even of me! Perhaps the hardest mysteries to live with are self-mysteries. But this scripture says God does not scratch His head considering me. I am no mystery to Him.

I find comfort (it's not complete comfort, but it is comfort!) in knowing that if I cannot make sense of some great or painful mystery, at least it makes sense to Him.

What place you may be in now is not meaningless. It is not senseless chaos. It & you make perfect sense to God.

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. I Cor 13:12

PPaul